'The public should be involved in the decision making process' is an oft heard statement, but the practice of public participation remains a worrisome issue for policy makers and planners. In this paper we describe local knowledge of flooding risk in the vicinity of the Scheldt Estuary derived through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with fourteen inhabitants. We compare and contrast this knowledge with that of scientists involved in the assessment of the flooding hazard posed by the tidal Scheldt and with that of Dutch and Flemish policy advisors. We identify areas of common knowledge, confirm the accuracy of much local knowledge and recognize the percipience of a number of the questions posed by local inhabitants. This exploratory study serves to confirm that background local knowledge can be a valuable tool in designing responsible policy processes for flood risk management.